Donati reveals advice from Shevchenko sold him on Parkhead move
RATED by highly respected Italian football manager Giovanni Trappatoni, recommended by Andriy Shevchenko. It is fair to say that Massimo Donati came to Celtic with something of a footballing pedigree.
It was Celtic manager Gordon Strachan who shelled out £3 million for the Italian midfielder’s services in June 2007, with Donati signing a four-year deal.
Some six years earlier, Donati had cost AC Milan £10m when he signed from Atalanta in 2001. His career had stalled at the San Siro though and it was beset by a series of five loan spells – Parma, Torino, Sampdoria, Messina and back to Atalanta.
The player readily admits that he had no idea that he was leaving one European football giant for another. And he was sold on the move by none other than AC Milan legend Shevchenko.
Donati said: “Andriy Shevchenko was involved in my transfer from AC Milan to Celtic. I received a phone call from a private number and my wife answered. I switched off the call but she told me it could be important as it was the summer of 2007 and I did not know what was happening with my contract at AC Milan.
“Thankfully after two minutes, the phone rang again. It was Andriy and he told me to listen and he asked me if I would like to go and play for Celtic. I said yes, I would like that very much and from that phone call the ball started rolling and I ended up joining.
“The memories of playing for Celtic are still alive in my head and in my heart. It’s is a wonderful football club and a fantastic time in my career.
“I signed from AC Milan as I was out on loan to other clubs most of the time I was at San Siro. The opportunity arose to sign for Celtic and I knew they were in the Champions League so that was great for me.
“I didn’t realise how big it was. I knew they were big
... but not that big! It is an incredible football club. When I arrived in Glasgow, I did not speak English but after a couple of months I spoke to a few people and I soon
realised that Celtic was a massive football club not just in Scotland but in Europe and also around the world.
“I wasn’t aware that Celtic have fans everywhere. We had our pre-season in America and there were thousands of fans over there and it took me by total surprise. I realised then that Celtic was a big deal. It was a great shock to me. In Italy, you know Celtic are big but it is only when you play for the club you realise that it is huge.”
The Italian revealed that he loved life initially under Strachan at Celtic Park as he helped Celtic lift the Scottish Premier League title and League Cup in his first season.
Donati hit his stride early at Celtic Park and his neat passing allied to his vision saw him make a good impression on the club’s supporters.
The midfielder scored a memorable dramatic late winner against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League tie at Celtic Park in November 2007, which left Strachan’s side on the verge of the last 16 of the tournament.
His goal sparked wild celebrations as he enjoyed a career high. The Italian even threw his shirt into the crowd at full time such was his joy as the Celtic fans serenaded him from the stands.
He said: “Gordon Strachan was a very good manager. He was a typical and proper Scottish man. He was very nice to me when I arrived and I have never forgotten
that. Even when I was on the bench at Celtic, Gordon would come to me and speak to me and explain his decision. We enjoyed a very good relationship.
“The first season was magical at Celtic as we won both the Scottish Premiership title and the League Cup. They are the only trophies I won in my career and I treasure the medals.
“I won the Serie B in Italy but that is not a real trophy as we only got promoted. I class the trophies that I won at Celtic as real prizes and nobody can take them away from me. It was not my job in my career to score goals as I was more of a defensive midfielder but sometimes I got on the scoresheet.
“It is always something special for a player who is not renowned for scoring goals to do that. I will always remember that night against Shakhtar because it was the best of my career.
“It was a real highlight and a most magnificent moment for me. I sometimes watch it back on YouTube as that goal is always in my heart and in my mind.
“It was such a good moment. I remember the
Celtic supporters singing and chanting the ‘Mo, Mo, Massimo’ song and it was fantastic to hear.”
This article was produced for the Celtic Way. Find out more and subscribe at celticway.co.uk.